10 Comics Superman Haters MUST Read

Many critics of the character focus on how the extent of his abilities makes him unrelatable. All Star Superman deconstructs this by using his incredible powers against him.

After being tricked by Lex Luthor into literally flying too close to the sun, Superman absorbs an immense amount of radiation. While his powers increase to an insurmountable degree, it comes with a deadly cost. In the short time he has left to live, Superman must overcome a series of trials mirroring the Twelve Labors of Hercules.

All Star somehow manages to present a version of Superman that is equal parts almighty and vulnerable. His exposure to the sun's radiation may have made him more powerful than ever, but even then there are instances where his powers just aren't enough.

Without giving too much away, there is a point in the narrative where Superman is unable to stop something horrible from happening. Even with his newfound strength, he is still rendered powerless to do anything other than pick up the pieces afterward. It's genius moments like these that make All Star Superman a perfect argument for the character's complexity.